26.11.13

Action Hero Game 2 (Level 1) October 19th RESPONSES

How are you? What is your first reaction after
playing this game?Action
Hero Anonymous - We need to change our conception about the city and people

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - It was a very different
feeling..I was pretty much happy and it was one of those reactions when you say
to yourself ; Life's blissful :)

Action Hero Siddharth - Slightly amused &
shocked. Some of the experiences and reactions of people were pretty different
than what I expected and so were my take aways from the game.

Action Hero Shreyasi - I'm overwhelmed! Very
exhausted but extremely ecstatic (yes! till the end) . But really very happy to
be able to play the game.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - I am feeling confident and
more brave.

Where are you playing from?

Action Hero Anonymous – Dus number market, Bhopal

Action Hero Vedika Mittal – Bhopal

Action Hero Siddharth – Alipore, Kolkata

Action Hero Shreyasi – Nehru Nagar, Bhopal

Action Hero Anonymous 2 – Bhopal

Why did you choose this location?

Action Hero Anonymous - I expected a variety of
crowd and activities in the area

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - Because I thought I
would interact with good people

Action Hero Siddharth - It was not too far from my
PG and I have not been there yet

Action Hero Shreyasi - I chose Nehru Nagar because I
dreaded the place.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - Because it was new to me

Gender

Action Hero Anonymous – female

Action Hero Vedika Mittal – female

Action Hero Siddharth – male

Action Hero Shreyasi – female

Action Hero Anonymous 2 – female

What is your age?

Action Hero Anonymous - 20

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - 19

Action Hero Siddharth - 32

Action Hero Shreyasi - 20

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - 19

1) Look at where you are. Make a mental record of everything you see, smell,
hear, feel.
What did you smell. hear. feel. see? List everything.

Action Hero Anonymous - Market place with different
activities going on simultaneously. Variety of people engaged in different
things. Groups of unemployed people, shopkeepers, idle shopkeepers, shoppers
and hoppers all over the place

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - When I looked around at
first, a creepy feeling came; but eventually I prepared myself for the coming
up tasks. There were a lot of people wandering aimlessly, many others busy in
their daily chores, some of the vendors opening their shops, some of them
cleaning the places around. Because, I was moving around swinging my arms,
people were staring at me, wondering what was I doing.! I felt a little
insecure roaming around there on an open unsafe street.

Action Hero Siddharth - Alipore Zoo. Under a large
tree with circular cement bench around it. Fresh air, smelling of trees and
plants around. Some group of boys sitting around me. An uncle and a kid too.
Lots of people walking by. People are mainly conversing in Bangla and hence I can’t
understand any of it. Coming to a city zoo after 15 years may be, feeling a bit
nostalgic. ( I did go to Darjeeling zoo in 2011 but that was a touristy visit
to slightly more exotic zoo).

Action Hero Shreyasi - I see men, men everywhere,
couldn't spot a single woman but I was expecting that anyway. Those men were
daily wage workers, who were waiting to be taken to construction sites. The
place smelled strongly of beedi, almost each one of them was smoking beedi. I
could hear them talk about how their day is gonna be , etc. I heard buses and
cars honking because I was near traffic junction. I was feeling nothing as such
initially but when those men started to stare I got a little paranoid, but that
was it.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - I feel awkward and new to
the surroundings. There is a feeling of fear.
2) yawn. big yawn. stretch your arms. twist. arch your back. stand with your
feet firm on the ground. smile.
How did you feel before after and during the task?

Action Hero Anonymous - Before the task:
okay..,,that would be easy. During the task: no dude....this is not
easy...being a girl, I am way too conscious about my actions in a public place

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - Hell, noo..! I can't do
this..was my first reaction :P.. but I did it eventually for the sake of doing
it. I was mocked at by people.. but then, I did not care!

Action Hero Siddharth - Felt more relaxed after the
task. During the task didn’t feel much. For a instant felt embarrassed as my T-
Shirt had risen exposing my belly causing a married woman passing by to smile

Action Hero Shreyasi - I saw the task and I started
to laugh a little, I was thinking yawn – okay, big yawn – okay, stretch your
arms – alright, twist- umm alright, arch your back - fine, but. .smile - no
way! But eventually I did it all, thinking like I really needed some
stretching! I was slightly conscious about people looking but I went on doing
it. Few people started to stare but then I REALLY NEEDED TO STRETCH a little.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - It was embarrassing to do
it at first and I felt shy. But after doing it I felt more confident.

3) Keep your chin raised. Make eye contact with passersby. Slowly walk up and
down the place. Keep those arms swinging. Smile.
How did you feel before and after the task?

Action Hero Anonymous - Before the task: smiling
part would be a little difficult...After the task: people did this task for
me...they were the ones staring and smiling

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - I did as I was told to,
gradually I started to feel a lot more comfortable, and there I was, walking
smartly..bearing a genuine smile on my face. It did not feel-at-ease to look
into the eye of a stranger but I kept that smile alive and received a positive
response.

Action Hero Siddharth - Felt relaxed, more in touch
with the surroundings and also slightly happy. After the task felt good going
till now. Felt also a bit lonely as almost all people are busy with their
groups.

Action Hero Shreyasi - I felt good when I saw the
this tweet on my phone. But when I started to do it, I was a little
apprehensive, but as I kept walking and walking it got better , comfortable
rather.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - I was embarrassed to do
the task but it was good and I felt more comfortable with my surroundings after
the task.

4) stand alone. don’t lean. don’t fold arms. make eye contact with 3 different
strangers. smile. earn a smile back from all three.
did you earn a smile? from whom? how was this experience?

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - I earned 5 smiles
back..:D The feeling was amazing, I did not see this coming. There was this
grumpy-looking female in her mid 40's.., I smiled at her and she asks me"
why are you smiling? do u know me? , I happen to say- just another happy day
aunty..! She asks" why? anything personal?" I reply-" no, just
like that, my mom called up this morning and I had not spoken to her in a long
time"..(had to make up something spontaneous). she says-"okay, beta..
keep smiling" ; that was so nice of her!! and I too say the same to
her..having felt an achievement to turn that grin into a smile. One more thing,
it’s easier to smile at females than at men..

Action Hero Siddharth - I would want to answer this
in detail. I thought this would be easy. Why won't people smile back at you but
I failed at this task. I was standing inside a mini clearing. Firstly a family
with teenage kids passes by. I manage to make eye contact with the father and
smile who looks at me suspiciously why is he smiling. Another Family. Another
Father. Same experience. I catch the eye of the mother who looks away and doesn’t
smile back. A young girl with siblings. Looks away. Another Uncle. Looks away.
I start getting slightly flustered but still keep on smiling. I try varying my
smile with a open mouth smile at some people. Still no smile back.
I finally get my first smile. A young guy who was walking with his friend first
looks confused on seeing me smiling and then smiles back.
I feel slightly relieved.
But my ordeal is not over. For the next around 5 minutes I try getting a smile
back from a variety of people but I don't get a smile back. I am consciously
avoiding kids for the reason I think it would be easy to get a smile back from
them.
I decide to walk a little ahead to more vantage position by the walking path to
see if that would change anything. It doesn't. All types of people are
continuously walking past me. Couples, groups of friends, families, large
groups. Young, middle aged, old. Different religions. As I can make out from
their clothes even different socio economic backgrounds. I am smiling at all of
them but people either don’t make eye contact or if they do, they don't smile
back. Several give me suspicious / amused looks like why is this guy smiling.
In fact my mouth starts hurting by the end of the activity but I don't get 3
smiles back.

Action Hero Shreyasi - When I had just started to
make eye contact with people, I felt slightly weird but after 2-3 puzzled faced
a 9-10 year old girl in school uniform smiled back, she was hesitant. And a
middle-aged woman, in a pretty saree smiled back

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - From three kids. I felt
good. :)

5a) walk left from where you stand. count up to 75 steps and then find a place
to sit . sit. occupy space. recline if you like.
where did you arrive? what was it like?

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - I went and sat outside a
cafe'.., on a staircase, the place was really dirty and filthy..but I had to
take a seat. I did so!

Action Hero Siddharth - I arrive at another circular
bench at one end of zoo. I feel at bit sad at not getting 3 smiles back but
feel relieved to be sitting now. I am still smiling hoping somebody would smile
back at me.

Action Hero Shreyasi - I arrived at a sidewalk which
on the side opposite to the road had a 6-8 inch thick and about a foot high PCC
boundary sorts which was in level with the ground behind. I sat over there, I
wasn't alone. It was fun, more so because I am used to sitting at places which
aren't much elevated from the ground, I felt like a
road-side-gunda-sort-of-a-person-who-stalks-chicks-and-eats-and-spits-pan-anywhere-and
-everywhere. People were staring a LOT now and I could barely ignore.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - I arrived at an auto
stand. It was weird.

5b) Keep sitting. relax. recline if you like. stare at the sky. count the
clouds. what is the colour of the sky?
What was the colour of the sky? How did it feel to do this?

Action Hero Anonymous - Blue and it felt as if the
heaven was smiling at me.

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - Soon after, I felt
fine..pretty much okay, seemed like I didn't care..and I sat there, leaned back.
I sat under the clear yet faded blue sky, thinking nothing, no hard thoughts in
my mind, no sorrow, no regrets, just a feeling of satisfaction in me.

Action Hero Siddharth - The sky was pale in colour
not very blue. It felt good to be doing something different.

Action Hero Shreyasi - White, because it was really
very bright, I could barely see the clouds, if there were any. It was quite
cool, I wouldn't actually do something so random anytime but that day I did it.
Stares became lesser.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - The colour of the sky was yellow. I felt a bit
uncomfortable.

5 c. hum, sing, whistle your favourite song. keep sitting where you are.
how did that go? which song did you hum or sing?

Action Hero Shreyasi - It was cool and kind of fun
to sing Lucy in the sky with diamonds- Like a BOSS!

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - it was good. Counting
stars- One republic.

5 d. think of all the things you like or love about your city
what do you like / love about your city?

Action Hero Anonymous - People and their slow happy
life.

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - I like the
well-cultured, learned people in my city.. the beauty it posses, the calmness
in the atmosphere, the lake and the fact that it is less- populated, the
good-natured people, and the beauty it has.

Action Hero Siddharth - I am new to Kolkata ( have
been here for practically just four days ) so there are really not too many
things I can claim to love about the city. But among the things I have seen or
experienced I like the sweets and the slower pace of the city. The bench I was
sitting on had a security guard sitting on it next to me. I asked him what he
loved about the city. He said he loved the fact that in spite of it being a big
city people can still have decent meals at a very low cost in the city. And the
fact that though the city is Bengal people from other places (He was from UP)
can still come and flourish here. He also liked the Durga Puja and
Dakshineshwar temple.

Action Hero Shreyasi - I like the canopied trees on
the roads which are really busy. The spring and the autumn in Bhopal. I love
Bharat Bhavan, it is a magnificent building designed by Charles Correa , it is
a centre for visual and performing arts. Neori Hills, where my home is, I get a
bird's eye view of Bhopal (most of bhopal) from there, it is beautiful ,
especially at night

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - I love the greenery of the
city. I also love the beautiful lakes!

6 a) hungry? carrying food? snacking? or walking to a place to eat? eat. alone.
eat slow. WHERE DID YOU GO? WHAT DID YOU EAT? 6 b) identify a new stranger and
find out what that person loves to eat the most. share your favourite food
thought too. WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT? WHO
DID YOU ASK? HOW DID YOU ASK? WHAT IS THE STRANGERS FAVOURITE FOOD?

Action Hero Anonymous - Pasta@ bake and shake

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - This task was the best
part..!:) accidentally, it had started, I was walking down the lane and saw
this old , confident, happy cute grandpa -age standing in the scorching heat of
the sun, looking for something in his green colored jute bag. I approached him,
and greeted him with a hi, he greeted me back, I asked him about his
whereabouts and why was he there, he was still looking in the bag, and then he
looked up, and asked me, why was I speaking to him, I made up a story, that I
was missing my grandpa, so I bumped into him...he said- so nice of u beta.! And
, then we talked and talked about the city, about each other's family, about
his food tastes, about his life and we happened to be of the same college,..he
was a retired engineer from my own college..:P so, we had common topics to talk
about..and then he gave me some life lessons..and then just as I was about to
leave, he asked me to accompany him to the juice shop.. I was startled at
this..but I felt deeply comforted! Out of courtesy, I gifted him a small
ganesha as a token of thank-you for making my day! he was so good,.. I escorted
him to the bus stop- and there, as I was about to bid him good bye, I felt
tears in my eyes.. and his too, he hugged me and I hugged him back, that was
one of the best feeling ! I still think of him, and it lightens up my face.

Action Hero Siddharth - Since I have just recovered
from Dengue and the doc had advised me against unhygienic street food and I can’t
see any good options inside the zoo, I walk out. I manage to find a sugar n
spice cafe a little far ahead. I had a potato burger meal there. Since the
outlet is deserted except for me, I decide to ask the person serving me. I
first asked him the same question as before what he likes about the city and
then asked him about the food. He said though Kolkata has lots of places
serving good food but what he likes most is Macher Jhol cooked by his wife /
mom though he gets to eat quite infrequently as he mostly ends up eating food
from the outlet itself.

Action Hero Shreyasi - I was carrying an apple with
me and bought a packet a chips from a nearby shop, I sat on someone's vehicle
parked in front of the shop. I identified a middle aged man wearing a peach
shirt standing about 10-15 metres from me. I went up to him and asked if he could
help in a study where I'm trying to find out what happens in my neighbourhood
and if he could tell me what is his favourite cuisine. He seemed a little
surprised, he interviewed me bit , he wanted to know my "background".
After a minute or two he said he loves pineapples and tomatoes. He liked salads
and regularly goes for morning walk every day.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - I went to bake and shake.
I ate a Pasta. I found a person who liked eating pizza

7) Exit right from where you're eating. walk 200 steps. stop. smile. toothy
smile. LOL. laugh out loud.
Could you LOL? How was it? Where did you arrive in 200 steps?

Action Hero Anonymous - Didn’t do this one.

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - no response

Action Hero Siddharth - Yes I could LOL. It was good
to laugh. While I was laughing I somehow couldn't help thinking about the irony
of people not smiling back at smiling person and in fact being suspicious of
him. I reached outside National Library.

Action Hero Shreyasi - Haha I could! I can proudly
say I LOLed standing next to the road. There weren't many people around, there
was a just a clear ground with one or two trees. I gave people passing by (on
the road) a good laugh too.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - I arrived at a crossing. I
laughed a little but not out loud.

8) Breathe in. Breathe Out. 10 times. Speak to someone of opposite sex. around
your age. speak to them about ANYTHING. not #streetharassment. introduce
yourself but not as #actionhero
How did you feel when you saw the message and after the task? Who did you speak
with? What did you both speak about? How did you introduce yourself?

Action Hero Anonymous - Disguised an a radio jockey
and asked a guy to record a love message for his five best friends since its
international gay day.

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - I tried speaking to a
guy of my age, but he seemed pretty disinterested, and then the next task was
lined up.

Action Hero Siddharth - I felt slightly nervous as I
had not been able to get smiles. But I was sure I would be able to talk to
someone. I decided to go inside the library premises for I could not see any
person of opposite sex nearby. I saw two girls ( they were hijab clad Muslim
girls) inside the Campus in the grounds and decided to talk to them. They
seemed a little younger to me ( They turned out to be PG students). I
introduced myself as somebody new to town and asked them about the library and
then about the city in general. In fact they even smiled back at me.

Action Hero Shreyasi - When I saw the message I was
like no way! How can I ever have random conversation with a random person! But
then after the initial shock, I started to look around, I saw a guy sitting
idle under a tree, I went up to him (I took a small notebook and a pen with me)
and I asked if he has 5 mins to talk, he seemed positive. So I asked him what
does do. He said he is a mazdoor. I asked him what kind of work he , he said
Chunai (brick-laying). I asked him if he likes it, he said he loves it, I told
him that I studying how to make buildings , so I wanted to know what kind of
workers are there in Nehru nagar. All of sudden his expression changed and
before I could talk any further, he started to give strange looks, I felt
uncomfortable so I got up and thanked him and left.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - I introduced myself as a
person doing a survey of the city and I asked him what he loved about the city.

9) fancy volunteering? find someone working outside + ask them if u can work w
them for 30 min. don't go to lonely shop in lane. outside.
what did you volunteer to do? how did you approach this task? what did you
discover?

Action Hero Anonymous - I worked in a shop. I
arranged wallets in the shelves. I discovered that talking confidently to my
colleagues can create a sense of safety in my mind frame.

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - I approached a florist
shop initially, but he refused, so; I went and asked at nearby archies gallery
and volunteered to work with them, they laughed but agreed, so, I attended a
customer with them and helped them to clean., re-arrange things, and gained a
new experience.!!

Action Hero Siddharth - This was another toughie for
me. I decided to come out of the National Library and look for any
opportunities around. I saw a policeman operating the traffic signal at the
T-Point outside. Asked him if I could help him in any way. He said he didn’t
require any help but we ended up talking about his routine day. Walked a bit
further ahead. Saw a middle aged man peeling onions outside a street side
restaurant. I asked him if I could help him. He refused and said I was welcome
to watch but not help. Asked two more people they too refused help. Walked even
further. Saw two Kabadi walas sorting Kabad separating Cans, Foil, Glass etc
from a sack full of Kabad. Stood watching them. Did some chit chat. And then
when one of them went to pick a sack full of more Kabad just went with him and
helped him carry it. Then helped them in sorting. They kept on saying please
don't but I said I am free and I can help and so I did. Came to know a bit more
about their lives. I discovered that some people won’t even take your help even
if you offer it and sometime you might have to deal with things that gross you
out to complete a task.

Action Hero Shreyasi - I found a street hawker
selling diyas, I just asked if I could help him sell those, he agreed. I found
a boy selling patties ( he would add tomatoes and chutney to it), I asked him
if I could help him prepare one, he agreed, he kept telling me what to do next,
I bought that patty and ate it ! I discovered that shopkeepers, vendors, etc
are more people friendly and that their task of selling is so not easy!

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - I volunteered at a general
store, it was good.

10) create an activity that would involve public participation. Could be
cleaning. singing. story telling. 30 minutes.

hint- it could be anything. keep it simple. what
activity will have everyone interested? willing to participate?
please share this experience. what did you do?

Action Hero Anonymous - I disguised myself as a
radio jockey, and asked people to wish Ameesha Patel happy birthday. I felt
sorry for people. But their active participation in the activity made me really
happy.

Action Hero Vedika Mittal – I volunteered at a shop
and helped them clean

Action Hero Siddharth - Couldn't do this activity as
was too tired. Decided to head back home

Action Hero Shreyasi - I found a group of Swiss
tourists (more than 10 people), they seemed willing to hear. I told them about
Bhopal and where all they could go. I asked them about their stay in Bhopal and
where they were headed next. A couple of by standers also joined in and they
were listening.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - I played the part of a
radio jockey and asked people to wish a celebrity happy birthday in an
entertaining manner.

11a ) Walk in the direction of your home. While walking- say out loud " I
pledge to unlearn fear. To occupy space. To be visible. My city.
for the girls. what did it feel like?

Action Hero Anonymous - It was best conclusion for
my game.

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - It felt awesome! the
streets seemed safer and I could roam around more freely!

Action Hero Siddharth - no response

Action Hero Shreyasi - It was awesome, I was kind of
jogging towards the bus stop while saying the pledge.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - It felt liberating.

11 b) Pledge while walking -I pledge to unlearn biases. prejudices. I will
stand against sexual harassment through non violent ways.
for the guys? what did you pledge? what did it feel like?

Action Hero Anonymous - Answered for the previous
question

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - It felt kinda good.

Action Hero Siddharth -I
pledged to unlearn biases. prejudices. I pledged that I will stand against
sexual harassment through non violent ways. In view of my experiences of the day,
the first part of the pledge felt true

Action Hero Shreyasi - My city needs to be occupied!
If they see women around they won't stare. Also there are a bunch of interesting
people.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - that it is beautiful.

What have you discovered about yourself?

Action Hero Anonymous - That I won't ever fear to
express, to talk, to ask, to stare, to sit, to stand, to walk, to smile...to do
anything I have stopped myself from doing

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - I am now able to do the
things, I thought could not have done otherwise, I am a bit more confident now,
and I have loved the experience blank noise has given me. it was utterly
memorable.

Action Hero Siddharth - I may be extrovert but I
need to further challenge myself to become more open and I need to further lose
my biases, prejudices and pre conceived notions. People surprised me today.
Also I think I need to get better at non verbal communications as I think that
might be the reason people didn’t smile back at me.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - I am more confident and
brave than I think I am.

What have you discovered about strangers?

Action Hero Anonymous - We perceive a lot of things
about people with just their look. In reality, they are way different than what
we expect them to be.

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - They are not all rude,
and grouchy, as they may seem like, some of them turn out to be really
kind-hearted and polite and generous and truly awesome.

Action Hero Siddharth - Strangers reflect the world
at large they come from in my opinion. However the strangers I met today seemed
to more cynical, more suspicious and being in Kolkata, a supposedly friendly
city it seemed more ironical. However I am not about to give up on strangers ,
yet.

Action Hero Shreyasi - Strangers aren't always bad
and mostly are approachable. But I would still be careful.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - that they are good people
and we don’t have to be scared of unknown people.

What does it mean to be an Action Hero?
For you. This is entirely personal

Action Hero Anonymous - Action hero is someone who
can do things like a hero

Action Hero Vedika Mittal - The feeling is beyond
any expression of words.

Action Hero Siddharth - I think I am still evolving
as an Action Hero. An Action Hero is anyone who challenges the existing notions
about behaviour / views about street sexual harassment either by direct /
indirect confrontation. I am on way but I need to more before I can be a true
action hero

Action Hero Shreyasi - Being an action hero is to
follow the pledge that we said out loud. And not just follow but to feel it, to
get rid of the inhibitions we carry when we walk on the streets. It is a very
positive feeling to have a sense of safety in your city. It isn't 100% but it
is has exponentially increased after playing the game. It means to feel safe in
your city and inspire others to do things to feel the same, things like -
OCCUPYING SPACE.

Action Hero Anonymous 2 - no response

Every task is 5 points. 5 being the highest. 0 being the lowest.
Please mention task and how you grade yourself in each task

Street Harassment

Blank - that which is not allowed meaning, form or articulation.Noise - that which heightens, builds itself.

'Eve Teasing' is considered a joke or prank.Blank Noise is a public and participatory arts collective that seeks to explore the range of street interactions and recognize 'eve teasing' as street sexual harassment/ violence.